Crowds return to Old Town Temecula for annual Rod Run and Show & Shine, B-1
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Great Oak takes Southwestern League boys’ tennis titles, C-1
Valley News • www.myvalleynews.com • May 13, 2022
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SERVING TEMECULA , MURRIETA , L AKE E LSINOR E , M ENIFEE , WILDOMAR , H EMET, SAN JACINTO AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES May 13 – 19, 2022
VISI T T HE NEW myvalleynews.com
Volume 22, Issue 19
Reality Rally returns to Old Grant to offer expanded Care- Town Temecula Local
A-Van services to Menifee seniors Tony Ault STAFF WRITER
Many of Menifee’s older adults, disabled or with very low incomes may soon see relief in their transportation worries with a $150,000 grant from the Riverside County Transportation Commission for a pilot program in the city’s underserved community. see page A-2
Local EXCEED hosts Art in the Park event Diane A. Rhodes SPECIAL TO VALLEY NEWS
The City of Hemet awarded a Community Development Block Grant to EXCEED to fund project activities such as the Art in the Park outing in April that attracted about 25 program participants. see page A-7
Reality TV stars gather in Temecula as the Reality Rally event makes its return after two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Valley News/Shane Gibson photo
Ava Sarnowski VALLEY NEWS INTERN
The steps of Temecula City Hall were flooded with participants, volunteers and sponsors for the
2022 Reality Rally “Amazing Race” game Saturday, May 7. The final event of the three day “fun for funds” fundraiser was an occasion that not only celebrated Reality Rally’s 10th anniversary, but
also its return to Temecula since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Event founder Gillian Larson, was the first to address the crowd after check-in. Also in at-
tendance were Temecula Mayor Matt Rahn, Mayor Pro Tem Zak Schwank and City Council Members Maryann Edwards and Jessica see REALITY, page A-4
Hemet man is looking to help students exchange life-altering experiences
Health Menifee Health Fair brings hundreds to Central Park Tony Ault STAFF WRITER
Hundreds of Menifee seniors took advantage of the annual Senior Expo & Health Fair at Central Park to gather information on programs especially designed for them in the community and throughout Riverside County, May 7. see page B-5
Diane A. Rhodes SPECIAL TO VALLEY NEWS
When Gary Oakley decided to become an area representative for International Student Exchange, he was thrilled to learn about all the great experiences that host families and students had from being part of the program. His role is to bring future placements together. “It’s about making good matches,” the Hemet resident said. “I spent most of my career life bringing individuals who were looking for job training and/or work together with employers. You are doing the same thing with ISE. This plays to my strengths; it’s a perfect fit for me.” Working remotely in recent years, like many others have been see EXCHANGE, page A-6
Gary Oakley, a new Area Representative for International Student Exchange, left, with ISE Program Manager Joey Banuelos and Regional Manager Mia Waller at Emilio’s in San Jacinto May 4. Valley News/Diane A. Rhodes photo
INDEX Anza Valley Outlook ... AVO-1
California drought worsens as Metropolitan Water District imposes restrictions Kim Harris MANAGING EDITOR
Business ............................B-6 Business Directory.............B-7 Calendar of Events ............B-2 Classifieds ........................ C-8 Courts & Crimes .............. C-8 Education .......................... C-4 Entertainment ...................B-1 Faith ............................. AVO-5 Health ...............................B-5 Home & Garden ............... C-5 Local ................................ A-1 Opinion ........................ AVO-6 Regional News .................. C-7 Sports ................................ C-1
Drought conditions continue to worsen in California, according to the California Department of Water Resources’ most recent update. Following the Tuesday, April 26, announcement by Metropolitan Water District declaring a water shortage and imposing water restrictions on six major water providers and the dozens of cities and local districts they supply, water providers must have plans to police their customers. If those providers fail to impose the restrictions, they could face fines of $2,000 for every extra acre-foot of water that exceeds their monthly allocation limits, starting in June, according to MWD. MWD customers in areas of Los Angeles, Ventura and San Bernardino counties that rely mostly see DROUGHT, page A-8 The U.S. Drought Monitor report released Thursday, May 5, shows Riverside County as being split between mostly severe drought with moderate drought in Temecula and the surrounding communities. Valley News/Courtesy photo